Global Technology Scorecard: Q4 and 2012 annual review

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What trends did we see in Q4 2012?

Slowing growth in the global economy weighed on the technology sector in early 2012 but as the year progressed revenue and profitability improved with the fourth quarter laying the foundation for stronger performance into 2013.

Sectors posting the strongest quarter-over-quarter profitability gains were Internet, Software, Software Services and System & PC hardware.

More smartphones are forecast to be shipped globally than feature phones in 2013. Vendors are expected to ship 919 million smartphones this year, or 50% of total mobile phone shipments worldwide.

IPO activity in the technology sector was slow in 2012 with the sector finishing the year with just 69 IPOs compared to 86 IPOs in 2011.

Venture capitalists invested US$14.7 billion in 2,308 US technology deals in 2012, a decrease of 4 percent in dollars and a 4 percent decline in deals over the prior year.